Please log in

Register now for free

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

A valid e-mail address. All e-mails from the system will be sent to this address. The e-mail address is not made public and will only be used if you wish to receive a new password or wish to receive certain news or notifications by e-mail.

Vulcain 2 engine now in full production

A small ceremony took place yesterday at the site of Snecma Moteurs in
Vernon, France, to mark the beginning of industrial production of the Vulcain
2 engine, designed for the new Ariane 5 ECA and Ariane 5 ES ATV launchers.
Present at the ceremony was Patrick Devedjian, the French Minister for
Industry and Jean-Paul B&eacute;chat, Chairman of the Executive Board of
Sagem-Snecma. ESA was represented by Antonio Fabrizi, Director of Launchers
and Robert Lain&eacute;, Head of the Ariane Department. "As the 12 February
Ariane 5 ECA qualification flight was a complete success; we can now go into
full production of the Vulcain 2 engine," said Jean-Paul B&eacute;chat.

The Vulcain 2 is used for the main stage of the Ariane 5 ECA that can place
payloads of up to 10 tonnes into geostationary orbit, and by the Ariane 5 ES
ATV, designed to deliver ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) to the
International Space Station (ISS). Ariane 5 ES ATV's maiden flight is planned
for 2006. It will place the ATV into a 300 km circular low Earth orbit,
inclined to 51.6 degrees, from where the ATV will use its own propulsion
system to reach and dock with the ISS. Vulcain 2 is a modification of the
Vulcain cryogenic engine used by the Ariane 5 Generic launcher and has an
increased thrust of 20%. The engine operates under slightly higher pressure
than that used for the
Ariane 5 G and with a mixture ratio of 20% more liquid oxygen. Its new oxygen
turbopump operates at 13 000 rpm to deliver a pressure of 161 bar.

This redesigned engine also has a new nozzle and nozzle extension to allow
exhaust from the turbopumps to be re-injected into the main system, thus
improving engine performance at high altitudes. All these modifications mean
that the Vulcain 2 engine can provide an additional lift capability of 1.3
tonnes into geostationary orbit.

During yesterday's ceremony, those present met with the Vulcain 2 designers
and technicians, and visited the test centre to see a Vulcain 2 engine, the
first produced under a contract for 30 engines.

Antonio Fabrizi said after the ceremony: "This first contract for Vulcain 2
engines has been placed under the European Guaranteed Access to Space Ariane 5
Programme. It ensures that Ariane 5 launchers will be available for European
missions."